Scout Renovates MI Environmental Study Area

Little did fifth grade Mason Intermediate Math and Science teacher Maddy Rossetti know that one simple comment in 2014 would turn into a two year renovation project at MI.

“A few years ago we were out by the ESA (Environmental Study Area behind MI) and I was talking to the kids about how we really need to get the dock repaired. One of my students, Lucas Ralston, said he was in boy scouts and could ask his Troop Master if there was anything they could do,” remembered Rossetti.

“The Troop Master reached out and said he knew that Samuel Kachur of

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Troop 43 was working on his Eagle Scout project. From there, Sam and I made plans to get the project up and running.”

It took about two years before everything was completed, but Kachur, who was a student at MI, took pride in the dock that he had hoped for years would be fixed.

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The dock project took longer than projected due to a very wet fall and spring, and having to let the pond dry out before holes could be dug and concert could be poured

​," shared Kachur.

Since the school did not have funds for the repair of the ESA, Sam raised the funds for the project by doing stadium clean up after MHS football games for two years, and Lowes in Mason gave him a discount on supplies. Scouts from Troop 43 and their parents

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along with Sam and his family and friends, completed the project over three weekends. They replaced the dock, repaired the benches and cleared the pathways.

The ESA is an excellent learning environment for the students at MI and with the lack of funding for the upkeep, having the Scouts involved is a wonderful opportunity for the scout to earn

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Eagle rank while giving back to the community.

“MI gave me the opportunity to give kids the dock they deserve and I hope students are able to use it for many years,” said Kachur. “I hope that Mason City Schools continues to give scouts opportunities like these in the coming years.”